~Reacquainted~

Knuckles walked among large crowds on his way through the packed downtown streets, the summer festivities were in full swing and attracted thousands well into the afternoon. Rooftop patio parties, parades and plenty of street vendors filled Music City's core, and the echidna felt a bit safer here.

Large novelty straw hats were handed out to the crowd and colourful boas were draped around Knuckles' shoulders, to which he gave a friendly Aloha in return. After following the parade a few blocks, he turned down a side street to find someplace he could sit and think. With no where else to go, he decided on the picnic tables near the food stands around him.

"Alright, let's come up with something, here." Knuckles thought while approaching the closest vendor. The tables were covered by a wide wooden canopy that both provided shade and hid him behind the banners hung up with the flashing lights.

"Hey buddy!"

"Huh?"

Knuckles was waved over to a trio at the back of the seating area so he joined them but kept his guard up. A modern rendition of Albert Collins' "If Trouble Was Money" echoed from the amplifiers of a nearby bandstand.

A lanky flying squirrel welcomed the echidna. "Drinks are half off and I'm buying! What do you take?"

"I'm fine, friend. Trying to keep my head clear."

"Ah, come on buddy, it's a party! First rounds on me."

The moment they made eye contact, Knuckles recognized his old friend Ray. However, the flying squirrel mistook him for someone else.

"Ray?"

"O'nux, you're back! Damn, we all thought you were a goner!"

"Nah, it's Knuckles."

"No way! Lemme get a closer look at ya," he said while lowering his sunglasses. "Oh it IS you! How the hell are ya? What're you doing here?"

"Eggman ditched me here. Don't ask, fatso pulled his dirt bag shit on the island."

Ray chuckled while shaking his hand. "I hate when that happens. Hey guys, this is my friend Knuckles. O'nux is his twin', you could say."

Knuckles spotted Sol's Charmy Bee first. "Hey kiddo, remember me? You were only knee height when I was here last so probably not."

The bee set a large milkshake down and scanned his face for a moment. "...I think I remember you. You're friends with Silver and Shadow, right?"

Knuckles had to hold his insults back and instead answered with, "Yeah, that's right."

Charmy reached into a backpack and raised a dark, hourglass-like object. "Mighty says hello."

"Uh...?"

"Oh yeah, Mighty died awhile back and Charmy thinks a sorcerer trapped his spirit in this cauldron." Ray clarified.

The bee picked up his milkshake once more. "It hasn't been disproven, is all I'm saying."

Ray shrugged and Knuckles shook his head. "Right, black magic must have really taken off, here. Anyhow, who is-"

A female echidna stood up and introduced herself. "Hey slugger, I'm Juliette. The boys have mentioned you once or twice - gotta say, you're a lot bigger than what I envisioned."

Knuckles was at a loss for words. Back home, he was very close to Julie-Su but their professions ultimately split them up, and she has been out of his life since then. Juliette waited on his response and he finally snapped out of it.

"Uh, hi Juliette. Um-"

"I remind you of another chick, don't I."

"Yes, a spitting image too."

She playfully punched his chest and walked towards the vendor. "Well, I'm more interested in a refreshment than a date. Nice to meet you, though."

She disappeared into a crowd and Ray cleared his throat before speaking. "What time is your ride picking you up?"

"Well, I don't have one, actually. That Patch douche took the Warp Ring Eggman used to send me here and I haven't got the slightest idea where he took it."

"Ah, bummer. That cat is cozy with Nega so it's most likely inside the imperial palace. Fortress doesn't even cut it with that place."

Knuckles sat down and sighed. "I figured it'd be some crap like that. Look, I outran him a couple hours ago but I know he's on my ass. I need to lay low 'til I can put together a plan or something, can you help me out?"

Ray smirked after finishing his drink. "I don't have anything of use but I know O'nux has a storage locker and a bunk that's not occupied at the moment. Couldn't hurt to try that."

"Ah man, I really don't feel like sitting through a sermon on my poor life choices."

The flying squirrel laughed at this. "He's not even here, first of all. His ex fiance has the keys, you should pay her a visit."

"Hold on, he was gonna get hitched? Where is he, for that matter?"

"Look, I'll take you to see Ledian. She can explain the situation better than me and I'd rather not get in the middle of it." Ray turned to the bee. "Charmy, wanna see a show?"

"Hell yeah I do!"

He patted his shoulder and looked into the vendor lineup for his friend. "Juliette! Adventure to the Midwest?"

"I'll meet you there!"

He gave a thumbs up and looked at Knuckles. "Walk with me."

The echidna adjusted his straw hat. "This sounds promising."

Patch was looking at photos displayed on a large monitor when his security detail returned with O'nux. His dreadlocked quills were rugged and unkept. The soles of his shoes were worn down and the once white jumpsuit he wore was stained with grass and dirt. Apart from the gloves, he was identical to Knuckles, though he had a noticable limp in his step.

"It's been awhile," Patch said. "You're holding up pretty good down there, all things considered."

"I work hard for your praise, after all." O'nux said sarcastically. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"I have questions and an assignment, if you're interested."

"A field trip off the farm? Now how did I get so lucky."

Patch picked up a touchscreen device and pulled up surveillance footage from earlier that morning. "At first, I believed you escaped and ran into the big city when I saw this, but then I thought 'why the hell would he come back for lunch?' if that were the case."

O'nux watched Knuckles easily tear through compound guards, disable machine gun turrets and avoid explosions.

"...I put him through facial recognition but only your name came up. Then it finally dawned on me: we've got a doppelganger on our hands! He's quite the scrapper, too. Never got his name but I did find some interesting things in the archives."

The monitor displayed photos of O'nux and Knuckles sitting with Sonic, Shadow and Silver years ago. Before Anti-Mobius was overtaken.

"So tell me about him, you two seem like you were buddies."

"His name is Knuckles. He and the blue one dissolved The Destructix and Blaze sent them home. That's it."

Patch put the device down and crossed his arms. "An older Robotnik sent him here this morning. He had an accomplice but I'm more interested in him. He knew my birth name. Knew the blindspots of the compound and he evaded me. I wonder how much more he really knows about Sol."

"Look, I played tour guide a long time ago. He went back to his home and Nega conquered mine. You've kept me on the farm this entire time, I couldn't have met with him at all. Is that what you wanna know?"

"I want to know if he would still trust you."

The echidna was perplexed. "I see no reason for him not to. Why?"

"I ask the questions."

O'nux held his tongue. He knew Patch held all the cards in this situation and any small infraction would result in severe repercussions. But it wasn't his well being he was worried about.

"...when we shut down your freedom fighters and spared your life, you became ours. And in the emperor's absence, I run the operation. You do as I say. So you're going to track down this Knuckles thug and deliver him to me. You do this within 24 hours and your farm days are over. Is that understood?"

"...yeah. I understand just fine."

"Excellent!.."

"I'll need time to clean up, first. Painkillers too. And a new suit I can work in."

Patch signalled to his mechanical fleet. "Follow them downstairs. I'd move fast if I were you."

The mentally defeated echidna did as he was told and limped along. He felt guilty serving Knuckles up to Patch, but there wasn't any other option.

Night fell, the parades were over and every nightclub was filling up. Ray led Knuckles and Charmy through the front doors of the Midwest Jazz Lounge, one of the biggest venues for the genre in Music City's core. Upon entering, the warm air was thickened by cigarette smoke and the clanging of glasses was louder than the musician performing on the main stage.

"Evening gentlemen," the manager greeted.

"Gerald, good to see you again." Ray said while shaking his hand. "A friend of ours here, Knuckles, wanted to speak with Ledian. Is she around?"

Knuckles removed his straw hat and met Gerald's gaze before shaking his hand next.

"She is, though I'd proceed with caution. She's on quite the streak right now."

"I've heard O'nux hasn't been the greatest partner to her. I thought I could smooth things over." Knuckles said.

"Best of luck on that tall task. But before you venture in, I must remind you it's 21+ past this point."

Charmy grinned politely. "No worries, I'm just here for the fireworks."

"Very well. Do enjoy yourselves, gentlemen."

The flying squirrel walked past two muscular doormen in black suits, while Knuckles and Charmy followed him through the dim lounge. Most of the other patrons didn't notice the trio but a few kept their eyes on the familiar looking echidna.

The musician on stage butted his cigarette in an ashtray set atop the grand piano he played, then flipped through his sheet music. Charmy coughed and shielded his eyes from the blinking lights above. Ray pointed at a table toward the back and a waitress took their orders.

"Two Scotch Whiskey's here and a grape juice for the kid."

"Yes, my favorite!" Charmy said.

"Which one is her?" Knuckles asked.

"Prussian blue dress, hoop earrings. Fingers crossed she's in a good mood."

Knuckles took his drink and made his way towards the back table. Ledian was surrounded by an entourage so he approached cautiously.

"Ledian?"

The anthropomorphic canine turned her head in his direction, and almost immediately jumped to her feet. "O'nux, you BASTARD! How dare you show your face in MY club?!"

"Whoa HEY! Take it easy, I'm not-"

Knuckles ducked and dodged the barrage of fists before Ledian's friends stepped in.

"After everything you pulled, you come here like nothing happened?! Screw you!"

"I'm trying to tell you I'M NOT HIM!"

"Dude, just get outta here, nobody wants to see you!" A male friend said.

"Yeah man, seriously."

"I just need to talk to her for a minute!"

The musician stopped playing and grabbed a microphone. "Who's interrupting my set? Aye, get these lights on! Hey! Take that outside, this is a respectable establishment! Go fight down the street!"

Charmy laughed manically and Ray face palmed, while Knuckles continued dodging fists. The two doormen arrived to intervene but Ledian stopped them.

"No, I (clears throat) I will handle this, fellas..." She turned to the musician on stage. "Apologies, Espio, I didn't think HE was going to show up tonight!.."

"Espio?"

"It's fine, Ledi, just deal with him outside." The chameleon said passively. "Now I've lost track of where I was, great!..."

The canine exhaled aloud and locked eyes with Knuckles. "Let's just talk this out like adults."

"You're tellin' me? I-what a wonderful idea, I woulda never thought of that one!"

She turned towards a side patio door and said, "Outside."

"Yes, ma'am..."

A tall badger leaned in to threaten him with, "I'm a black belt and I will mess you up if you come here ever again!"

The echidna pump faked him and the badger flinched so much that he knocked his table over and spilled more drinks.

"Yeah, clean that shit up and go shower with the guys."

Knuckles signalled for Ray to stay here and he followed Ledian outside. The crowd settled down, the lights dimmed once again and Espio restarted his set.

O'nux stayed on the rooftop patio that overlooked the alley where Ledian and Knuckles spoke. He wanted to jump down and explain his side, but decided to let this play out first.